Same sex married couples, who do not previously benefited from all social security benefits because their state or country does not recognize their marriage and who had previously filed claims, will benefit from such services as any married couple.

Indeed, several days ago, the Justice Department announced that following the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to legalize equal marriage in all 50 states, all same-sex married who had previously requested would be recipients of social security benefits.

The Social Security Administration is expected to adopt the new policy, even if we could see that it was quite reluctant in the past. Lambda Legal also clarified that these rules are expected to be applied to previously filed claims that are pending in the administrative process or litigation.

«With this good news, we are hopeful that widows, widowers and retirees, wherever they lived, who need Social Security spousal benefits earned through years of hard work, will soon be able to receive them,» said Susan Sommer, director of constitutional litigation for Lambda Legal.

Great news for the LGBT community in Puerto Rico since the Justice Department announced that it would not defend the marriage equality ban while a challenge against this law that prohibits marriage to same-sex couples was launched by many LGBT couples last year.

Justice Secretary Cesar Miranda said the government should stop discriminating against the LGBT community.

«It's neither fair nor correct to defend the constitutionality of that law,» he said. «Same-sex couples cannot get married and therefore do not have access to those rights. They should be available to all those who love each other, who take care of each other, who work and contribute to this society like everyone else.»

When the case was heard by a federal court, the Justice Department had defended the ban, which was finally repealed by the judge. An appeal was then filed in the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which must rule on the case. But this turn of events could well tip the balance on the right side for same-sex couples.

In recent years, several laws in favor of LGBT rights have been approved in Puerto Rico, such as the prohibition of discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation.

A spokeswoman for a local equal rights committee, Amarilis Pagan, also told that a new battle was about to begin on the island, one concerning the adoption by same-sex couples.